Ink mixer



1932- F. c. MARQUARDT 1,872,312

INK MIXER Filed Dec. 19, 1930 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 16, 1 932 v UNITED;

PATENT QOFFQICE FRANK C. MARQUARDT; OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOER To AMERICAN BANK 'NOIE COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y.,;A CORPORATION on NEW YORK nix MIXER Application aia Dccembei'i19, i930. sf riaix 503,381.

My invention relates to an ink mixer, and morepartlcularly to improvements by which the pigments and the vehicle forming the ink ink are subjectedto the stirring and mixing action of the different parts of the machine.

In the production of ink for] high grade printing purposes, expensive pigments and 5 expensiveoils as avehicle are used. The oil and the pigments are delivered to a'circular tub or can which,.during themixing opera tion, is rotated at low speed. Co' -operating v. with the tub or can is a rotatable head carrying a plurality. of paddle blades positioned within the tub or can. Theaxis of rotation of said head carrying the paddles is eccentric to the axis of the tub or can so that in their rotation, the paddles or blades act upon the oil and pigment adjacent the side of 'the'tub or can and the center thereof. Hence, with each rotation ofthe tub orc'an, the entire contents thereof are successively brought within the operative range "of said paddles.

age thereof, the time interval ofthemixing operation should not be extended beyond that which is required to bring the inkto a de sired condition'suitable for its use in a; press.- If this interval be too long, the ink will nothave the desired consistency,and this is also true if the interval be too short. Further-- ink of the desired quality, it is essential that the'ingredients in the tub or can be subjected to the action of the paddles at a uniform speed fora definite time interval.

Heretofore, mixing machines have .been

used which embody therein afbevel gear for rotating a turn-table supporting a tub or can, a bevel gear for rotating'a'pad dle head and a 5 single power driven wide bevel gear en- In the mixing of such inks, toavoid'sp'oilmeshed both of said other gears. With this construction, the bevel gears driving both the tiirri-tablefor the'tub or can and the pad dle head, was subject to complex stresses which resu'lted in excessive wear as to the portion ithereofactuating the paddle head, so that after the mixeruhad been in use a short'time, there was constant likelihood of variation in the actuation of the paddle head and breakage of the gearing driving same. This might occur at any time, even whilea batch of: the ink'wasbeing mixed, so that the continuity in the mixing operation would have to be interrupted to effect repairs. The interruption in the mixing operation not only reduced; the production capacity of the machine, but might lead ,to such under or overworking'of the ink in the tub or can as to impair the quality of theink, even to the point. of making it unsuitable for use in the inking" mechanism of printing machines. Furthermore, variation in the speed of operation of the paddles had the effect of subjecting different portions of the ink in the tub or can to a variableworking which also had its e'fiect-in the quality of the ink.

With the aboye conditions in mind, I have provided a mixing machine the mechanisms of which'are so constructed and arranged as to ensure continued, uniform movement of the paddle blades and of the turn-table for the tub or. can inrelation to each other. The various parts are so constructed as to ensure a desired timing in the movements of the paddles and of the turn-table for the tub or can and the maintenance ofthis'timing with ajlongcontinued use of the machine.

.In securing this result, I employ independentbevel' gears co-operating respectively with the bevel gear carried by the turntable and the bevel gear carried by the paddle head, thepitch diameters of these gears.

being determined by the axis of-rotation of said paddle head and of said turn-table respectively. Both gears are simultaneously actuated from the 7. main driving shaft through a speed reducing gearing, the power applied to which is preferably derived from an electric motor.

. With the construction of a machine embodying the invention, a proper time interval for securing the desired quality of the ink may be predetermined with the assurance that with a continued operation of the machine different batches of ink will have substantially the same quality, thus in large measure avoiding the exercise of the judgment of the operator in determining when the. pigment and oils have been properly treated. Furthermore, reliability in the operation of the machine permits it to be operated with the minimum of attention.

The invention consists primarily in an ink mixer embodying therein a turn-table adapted to receive. a tub or can, a bevel gear carried thereby having a pitch determined by the axis of rotation of said turn-table aro tatable paddle head, the axis of which is :5 eccentric to the axis of said turn-table. a

bevel gear carried thereby of relatively smaller diameter than the bevel gear carried by said turn-table, the pitch of said gear being determined by the axis of rotation of said head, a shaft, a plurality of bevel gears.

carried thereby and enmeshed respectively with the gear carried by said turn-table, and with the gear carried by saidpaddle, the pitch of the gear enmeshed with the gear carried by the turn-table being determined by the axis of rotation of said turntable, and the pitch of the other of said gears being determined by the axis of rotation of said head, andspeed reducing gearing op erative upon said shaft; and insuch other novel features of construction and combina tion of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended. Referring to the drawing, Fig 1 is a side View of an ink mixerem bodyin'g the invention; and Fig.2is aplan View thereof.

Like numerals refer to like parts in both of said views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing. the main frame of the machine 10 has mounted, in an extension there of, aflturn-table 11 supported adjacent its periphery by roller bearings .13 and carryinga large bevel gear 12. The pitch surface of this gear is determined by the axis of adjacent the side of the tub or can andclosely adjacent the axisof rotation of the turntable 11, thus causing said paddles to act uponthe contents of the tub or can between the side ofthe tub or can and the axis of its rotation. i

Connected with the head 19 is a flexible connection 23 passing fover the pulleys 18 and connected with a counterweight 24 movable'in the'hollow upright 17. -Mounted in thepaddle head 19 is a. shaft25 carrying a gear 26 enmeshed with the rack 16, and a handwheel 27. .Theshaft 25, gear 26 and.

hand, wheel27- afford means by which the paddle head 19 may be raised or lowered in relation to the turn-table 11 and the tub or can 14 carried thereby.

Also carried by the shaft 25 is a ratchet wheel 28 cooperating with which is a dog 29 for preventing a return movement of the head 19 andparts appurtenant thereto when thisheadhas been elevated. Said ratchet and dog may be used to sustain the head19 to the desired extent.

Mounted in the frame 10 is a shaft 30 car? rying a bevel gear 31, the pitch surface of which corresponds with that of the gear 12. Driven from said shaft is a second and smaller gear 32, the pitch surface ofwhich corresponds with thatof the gear 21. The. gear when the paddle blades22 have vbeenlo wered- 32 is made entirely independently of the gear.

31 and is secured thereto and to the shaft 30 in any desired manner as by means of the bolts 33 passing through the gear 32 and-engaging the gear 31. y k

- In the form of the invention shown, the actuating power is derived from an electric motor 34, there being positioned between this and the shaft 32 a speed reducing mechanism consistingof the entrained gears 35 and36 driving'the shaft 37, the powerfrom which shaft is applied to the shaft 30 by means of the entrained gears 38 and 39..

The pitch of the gear 31, is determined from the axis of rotation of theturn-table 11, while the pitch of the gear 32 is determined by the axis 'ofrotation of the shaft 20. The operation of the herein described machine is substantially as follows:

Before placing a batch of pigment and oil inthe tub or can 14, the hand wheel 27 is used to turn the gear 26, the cooperation of which gear with the rack 16 raises the. paddle head 19 so as to bring the paddle blades 22 above the top of thecanto an extentto permit free access thereto. When the batch is in the can, said mechanisms are again used to lower the paddle blades until the bottom of said blades are closely adjacent the bottom of the tub or can 14.

When the parts are so positioned, power is applied to the motor 3a which, through the speed reducing gearing, will impart rotary movement to the turn-table 11 and to the paddle head 19. The number of revolutions per minute of the paddle head is relatively greater than those of the turn-table 11, so that the mixing action is a local stirring action by the paddles 22, which is progressively extended to all of the batch in the tub or can as a result of the turning of the turn-table 11 and the tub or can 14 carried thereby. This action, however, is limited to the material upon one side of the axis of rotation of said turntable.

While the machine is in operation, both the turntable and the paddles operate continuously without any appreciable variation in their speeds, thus ensuring a uniform stirring action throughout all of the contents of the tub or can as it is brought within the operative range of the paddles. By reason of the construction and arrangement of the various gears, this constant, uniform speed is maintained throughout the entire period required for properly mixing the ink. The result of this continuous, even stirring action is the bringing of every portion of the batch to a desired uniform condition. Furthermore, the mechanisms employed avoid any possibility of the interruption of the action of the paddles due to excessive wear or mutilation of the gears driving same.

stoppage of the machine, when the mixing operation is once started and before it is completed, is undesirable, since the interruption of the mixing operation may result in a variation of the time interval to an extent to seriously impair the quality of the finished product. The effect of such stoppage will vary according to the stage in the mixing of the ink at which the stoppage occurs.

The main object of the invention is to permit a continuous, uniform operation of the machine during the entire period required to properly mix the ink, and the mechanisms employed are for the purpose of avoiding conditions which may result in accidental stoppages or fluctuation in the speed of op eration of the machine.

With the construction and arrangement of gearing described, the gears are subjected to very little wear and there is little or no likelihood of binding or breaking of gears which might result in variation of the speed or stop page of the machine.

With the machine of the invention it is possible to mix succeeding batches of pigment and vehicle with the assurance that all of the ink thus produced will be in substantially the same condition, since the same time: interval will cause-every portion of each batchtoibe subjected to -the action of the paddlesun'der ex'ac'tlyzthe 'same conditions. The inks produced i-n-the machine of the invention are highly viscous, and if notproperly worked develop properties which" will make themunsuited :for use in the type 'of printing machine withwhich "such inks are used. There is little or no tendency of the mixed inks to flow, andthis'is relied uponinthe final stages ofthe'mixing action;

When. a'batch of ink' has been properly worked in-the mixer,- the paddle-head 19' is elevated, the ink cleaned from the paddles thereof 'and the tub or can l lremoved from the turn-table 11. If pigments of-thesame colorare to be used in the next batch, a fresh tub or can is mounted upon the turn-table 11 and the operations above referred to are repeated with this-batch. If pigments" of dif ferent colors areto' beused, of course itis necessary to thoroughly cleanthe paddles. The certainty of operation of the machine not'only resultsin uniformity in the quality of the'produ'ct over a long run'of 'the inachine, but a: material saving in the-maint'e' nance of the machine, the material used in the different batches and the labor required to operate the machine. 'It'is possible, with'the machine of the invention, to rely upon-the time interval during which themachine is operative'as toeach batch to 'securethe de-' sired product, and to depend less upon the acquired skill of the operator in determining by observation'when'the in vis approaching a proper-condition; v 1 It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise detailsof construction shown in the-drawingit'being apparent that such may be varied without departing from'the spirit and scope of; the invention.

-Having described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to have protected by' Letters Patent, is;+' 1 l 1. Anink mixer embodying'therein a turn table adapted to receive a tub or can a bevel gear carried thereby having a pitch determined by the axis of'rotationof said turn table, vertically extending guideways, a vertically extending rack adjacent said guideways, a paddle head slidably mounted in said guideways, a gear wheel carried thereby cooperating withsa-id rack, a holdback mechaism operative upon said gear, means whereby said gear may be turned, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head, the axis which is eccentric to the axis of said turn-table, a plate carried by said shaft, a plurality of paddle blades carried by said plate and of a length to reach closely adjacent the bottom of a tub or can upon said turn-table, a bevel gear carried by said shaft of a relatively smaller diameter than the bevel gear carried by said turntable, the pitch of said gear being determined bythe axisof rotationof said plate, ashaft, alplurality of bevel gears carried thereby and enmeshed respectively with the gear carried by said turn-table, andiwith the gear carried by said shaft, the pitch of the gear enmeshed with the gear carriedby the turntable being ,determined by the axis of rota? tion ofsaid turn-table, and the pitch of the other of: said gears beingdetermined by-the axis of rotation of said paddles, and speed reducing gearing operative upon said shaft.

2. An ink mixer embodying therein a turntable adapted to receive a tub or'can, a bevel gear carried thereby having a pitch deteri mined by theaxis of rotation of said turntable, vertically extending guideways, a vertically extending rack, adjacent said guideways, a paddlehead slidably mounted in said guide'ways, a gear Wheel carried thereby cooperating with said rack, a holdback mechanism operative upon said gear, means whereby said gear may be turned, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head, the axis which is eccen-' trieto the axis of said turn-table, a plate 'car- 25 ried by said shaft, a plurality of paddle blades carried by said plate and of a length to reach closely adjacent the bottom of a tub or can upon said turn-table, a bev'el gear carried by said shaft of a relatively smaller diameter sothan the bevel gear carriedby said turn-table, the pitch of said gear being determined by the axisof' rotation of said plate, a'shaft, a plu rality 'ofbevel .gears c-arriedthereby and enmeshed respectively with the gear carried 35 by said turn-table, and with the gear carried by said shaft, the pitch of the gear enmeshed with the gear carried by the turn-table being determined by the axis of rotation of said turntable, and the pitch of the other of said "-4 0 gears beingdetermined by'the'axis of rota- Men of said paddles, a large gear carried by said shaft, a secondshaft having a small gear carried thereby entrained with said large gear, a source o fpower, a small gear driven 46 thereby and a large gear. carried bysaid last named shaft entrained'with said'last named smaller gear.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature, this 12th day of December,

FRANK C. MARQUARDT. 

